Chapter 35: Overseas Box Office
[Chapter 35: Overseas Box Office]
Buried had been in North America for its fifth week, earning $935,000 across 187 theaters, bringing its total box office to $12.71 million. The previous week, distributed by 20th Century Fox, Buried premiered in 21 countries and regions overseas, raking in $18.37 million. In Japan, South Korea, the UK, Spain, and Taiwan, it made over $2 million in its opening week.
When the news reached the US, it created a stir in the media and entertainment circles. Buried's production cost was only $20,000. Before its release, it hadn't won any awards at international film festivals, yet during its overseas debut, it grossed nearly $20 million in its first week, yielding a return of over nine hundred times the original investment.
...
"This data is ridiculous; it can't be real," Quentin Tarantino said, glancing at the figures in the Los Angeles Times. He felt a wave of envy wash over him, his face contorted.
Of course, the figures were real. They came from the overseas distribution department of 20th Century Fox, and if they inflated the box office numbers, it would mean that Fox would have to pay more to Link.
Fox would not be stupid enough to do such a thing.
...
"Opening week earnings of $18 million, with overseas totals projected to exceed $40 million and global totals over $60 million. Damn, why didn't I pay attention to Buried back then? Such a missed opportunity," exclaimed Harvey Weinstein, president of Miramax Films, staring at the shocking numbers in the newspaper. Overwhelmed with regret, he felt his eye bags droop and his cheeks tremble.
During the Sundance Film Festival, he personally scoured Park City for potential new films. He had been thrilled after seeing Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs, thinking he had struck gold, and had hardly paid attention to other films.
He had even crossed paths with Link at the festival, where Link introduced himself, hoping Weinstein would come to a screening of Buried. Weinstein dismissed him with a glance, not believing that a young guy would be able to create anything worthwhile.
Later, Miramax did receive a tape of Buried, but having heard that it was rejected by all his peers, Weinstein had no interest in watching what he deemed a "bad movie."
Nobody expected that Buried would perform so extraordinarily well after its release, with sales continuing to skyrocket.
A $20,000 investment netted thousands of times in returns. If Weinstein had been more patient at Sundance and not underestimated Link for being so young and an outsider, this film could have belonged to Miramax, earning at least $20 million.
Twenty million dollars!
Weinstein pounded his chest in frustration.
...
After the first week's overseas box office results for Buried were revealed, Weinstein wasn't the only one feeling regretful; many studio heads were equally upset upon seeing the newspaper numbers.
New Line Cinema was among the first to have approached Link. It was said that Robert Shaye, the usually mild-mannered president, smashed his favorite glass sculpture in his office after seeing the overseas box office figures for Buried.
There were rumors that he broke it accidentally, and not solely due to missing out on Buried.
...
"How can this garbage movie make tens of millions? Are the moviegoers blind? Why would they choose to watch that when there's a great film like Chaplin? Why?!"
In his Beverly Hills mansion, Robert Downey Jr., in a fit of rage, threw half a bottle of limited edition royal whiskey against the wall. The bottle shattered, sending golden liquid and shards flying.
His agent, Jimmy Rich, shook his head and sighed.
It's not surprising that Downey was angry; he was frustrated too. A low-budget indie film like Buried could have significant artistic depth, but it was still a rough B movie, especially with an unknown lead.
Yet, that film had managed to garner over $30 million worldwide, with projections to surpass $60 million. Meanwhile, the well-crafted, high-caliber Chaplin only made $8.13 million in North America and $3.22 million overseas after three weeks of release, completely overshadowed by Buried.
If Buried had been a commercial film or an exceptionally high art piece, then losing to it wouldn't have been as hard to swallow. But being beaten by a film made for just $20,000? That just didn't sit right.
Adding insult to injury, both Chaplin and Buried had been released simultaneously. At the start, Chaplin was eclipsing Buried -- like a prince compared to a beggar. It was obvious who would be preferable.
But no one predicted the drastic turn their fates would take. After expanding its release, Buried's box office numbers rose dramatically -- from the bottom of the weekly charts to eighth, then to fifth and fourth, even hitting second place.
If not for encountering the classic erotic film Basic Instinct during a slow season, it could have easily taken the top spot.
Buried's rise was built upon overshadowing Chaplin. The media always compared the two films.
Chaplin had a production cost of $30 million, with over $2 million spent on marketing. The director was Richard Attenborough -- a big name in the industry -- and the lead was the hot Hollywood star Robert Downey Jr.
The supporting cast was equally stellar, featuring Oscar-winner Anthony Hopkins, A-list actress Diane Lane, and talents like Moira Kelly and Milla Jovovich.
When it released, countless stars were promoting it, and hundreds of media outlets were reporting on it.
And then there was Buried.
A $20,000 production cost, and the alleged marketing budget came from Link selling his script for $50,000. It simply didn't stack up at first glance!
The director was the unknown Link, and the lead was... Link himself, with no supporting cast to speak of. They couldn't even roll out a red carpet -- they were practically begging for scraps from Chaplin's.
Yet somehow, this film made five or six times what Chaplin earned.
The contrast became a hot topic.
The unscrupulous media exploited the moment to mock Robert Downey Jr. and ridicule Chaplin. The more successful Buried became, the more Chaplin's failure loomed.
Buried's box office performance has become legendary, while Chaplin would be remembered as a stepping stone on the path of its success.
...
Robert Downey Jr., who should have soared with Chaplin and had a shot at an Oscar nomination, found himself ground underfoot by Link, this newcomer who came from nothing.
The once-proud prince being trampled by a beggar was a tragedy far worse than Hamlet's.
In the face of such unbelievable circumstances, Downey merely smashed a bottle. He was showing remarkable restraint.
"Robert, there's no need to be upset. Hollywood's been around for over a hundred years, and many so-called 'genius' directors have claimed the spotlight right from the start, basking in fame and fortune.
But those moments are typically fleeting. Before long, they drift back to obscurity. Link is another one of those cases.
You, however, come from a legacy of performers. You've been acting since you were five, and in the past twenty years, you've worked on over twenty films -- each step deliberate and grounded.
You're not one of those natural geniuses; you've put in the time and effort to become one.
In the future, you'll only grow stronger. Your brilliance will shine even brighter while Link won't replicate the success of Buried; he'll fade into mediocrity, falling back to where he started.
You really don't need to stress over someone like Link. It's not worth it."
Agent Jimmy Rich said.
Robert Downey Jr. sat on the couch, closed his eyes for a few seconds, and then opened them. "Jimmy, you're right. Link just got lucky; he can only succeed once. I'm a developing talent who can succeed time and again; he doesn't deserve my anger."
"Ha! Robert, it's wonderful that you think this way. Your mindset is better than anyone else's, and you're stronger than most. That's why you'll go further than the rest," Jimmy Rich said, applauding him, almost like he was comforting a child.
*****
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